Chapter 27: A challenge appears
"Rejoice, oh great people of this town! For I, the envoy of the Pope, have arrived to clear the air rumors about a supposed saint! Yes! I know how incredible it must be to have me as your guest! But fret not! For I'm merciful!"
The voice of a young man spouting nonsense at the turn of the corner soon catches my attention while I'm finishing with one of the daily requests I get now that I've become a full-blown celebrity. Still, the voice was a little too damp to make it out clearly until the crowd began to make way for someone or something.
"Please do make way for me for I! God's chosen messenger has an important message for this so-called 'saint.'" It was pretty hard to understand what the young guy was saying, but for some reason, seeing them break into the crowd with such ease made me shiver like I was in trouble or something. Oh man, did I do something illegal?! VERA, this is all your fault!
I tried to control myself as soon as the prospect of jail time began to hover in my mind, for only someone from the government would be able to command so much authority, right? Should I start running away now, or do I wait for them to arrest me? -u-
"I'm afraid I will have to ask you to stay behind the line right there, mister! Nobody is allowed to come that close to the saint without having a proper ticket, right? What are you doing!?" Mr Bart tries to stop the kid foolishly and his guards, and so he gets quickly apprehended by the guards in a matter of seconds.
Oh shit, this is bad. The kid is getting closer, and his yellow eyes look at me so menacingly that I don't expect anything good to come out of his mouth. Alright, my dear diplomat Vera! Now, it would be an excellent time for you to shine and defend me! EHEHE! VERA? EHH?! WHAT?! You've chosen to hide behind me?! You coward! Aren't you the "older sister?!"
"I've heard many great things about you, young lady! Yes, you! The one that is trying to hide beneath the sheets of the table you've set up! I know you might be scared, but I'm not here to cause trouble!" Dang it! He saw me get under the table sheets. How perspective; well, I guess there's no running away now.
Soon, I came out from under the table and showed myself to the critical "envoy" of the Pope, as they requested. I know he said he's not here to cause trouble, but if I don't remember wrong, it was the church who destroyed my hometown, so excuse me, sirs, if I'm a little too distrusting of you! It's not like you killed over 90% of my PEOPLE!
Yet I guess they don't know that yet based on the fact they're willing to agree to a peaceful meeting; maybe I can hide the fact I'm one of the much hated "witches" they so want to exterminate. Although I'm still afraid to die, something about this guy's aura does imply a high level of "trust."
"Aw, what a beauty indeed! Based on appearances, you have the looks of a saint. I believe it would be best if I introduced myself properly, for I have yet to properly show you my goodwill saint of the north! My name is Eucalyptus D Giorno!" Like the plant? Seriously? I can't help but laugh a little about their name.
My little laugh catches the attention of the young boy, who doesn't seem so pleased with me interrupting his super duper serious "presentation." If you're not here to arrest me, then can you get it over with? I have an actual customer who I have to attend to, you know?!
"What's so funny, saint of the north? I know I said I'm not here to cause trouble, but making fun of me could still be a severe crime!" Oh lord, come on, cut it out already; I've always hated rich kids, even in my past life. Rich kids who have everything thanks to their daddy drive me insane. I hate them so much, so I would prefer if we got whatever he wants with me over with!
"Nothing is funny about you, my lord, but would you please state your business with me already?" The kid soon is baffled by my nonchalant form of speech, but he still hasn't cut out his act already. Ugh! I hate you!
{Parliment - Kevin Penkin}
"My, my! Why the hostility, my lady? I've only come to verify you're a true saint and not just an impostor like many others who pop up once in a while. As you may know, impersonating an officer of the church is a severe crime in ANY human nation. Now bow down to me before my mood worsens!"
"Bow down to you? Who the heck do you think you're? EH?" The boy's guards soon run toward me to grab me so they can shove my face straight toward the ground, causing a great commotion as the people around me begin to protest in my place.
"Hey! What the heck do you think you're doing?!" "She's a true saint who has access to holy magic and is capable of exorcizing demons! Leave them alone!" "Yeah! You guys are the fake ones! Charging two thousand eris per exorcism!" The guards try their best to keep the people in place, but they're clearly slowly backing up as there's too big of a crowd to control.
"Silence!" The boy soon screams with an uncharacteristically deep voice like that of a powerful old man. I don't know what the kid used against the people, but whatever he used was enough to make everyone back up a little, putting a large grin on him.
[Cursed spell desanctified] [Ruler of heavenly virtue privileges granted] [Do you wish to use Ruler's authority to overrule lower class holy magic? (Yes/no)]
Eh? Well, the people are on my side, so if I can overrule their power with me, then I don't see why I wouldn't do it! Yes, please! I choose to use my Ruler's authority to override this arrogant kid's power! [Orders received commands granted] [Ruler's authority upheld]
"Desanctify!" With a single word that comes out of me, the entire field gets instantly relieved from whatever magic the boy had cast on them, making the kid shake in his boots as he slowly retreats along with his guards, letting go of me. Now, do I have anything to stop him from running away now? No? AW!
"How did you? The command I just used is considered a high-ranking spell, and you got rid of it like that? So easily!? Preposterous!"
"Like I asked before, state whatever the hell you want with me, and I'll consider it! You may take this as a warning! Whatever black magic you plan to use on me or my followers will not be tolerated!" The people all soon began to cheer for me while booing the arrogant fool who ended up speechless.
"Tsk! You! You're right. I should have conducted my investigation already. I only wanted to use appraisal on you and confirm your status as a saint! You know the criteria for a saint, don't you? Even if you hold holy power, if you're not human, then you're a heretic and will considered an enemy of the church!"
Just like I figured, so the church has concerns about me being one of the surviving witches? Dang it, I knew this was all too good to be true! What do I do now? Do I refuse to partake in his test or what? If I refuse, however, the people will turn on me, but at the same time, if they find out I'm a witch, maybe I could still wield my sphere of influence to save my butt with the help of this nation?
"Wasn't my demonstration just now not proof enough that I'm a saint?"
"Like I said! If you're anything else but human, even if you hold any holy power, you're to be considered an enemy of humanity! A heretic! If you've got nothing to hide, then I don't see the issue in you taking the damn appraisal test!"